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[RESOLVED] My PC is too noisy, needs advice which fans/PS to buy.

Hi all !

It's about time to make my PC quiet ! it is way too noisy. I use my PC for audio recording and would like to have it as quiet as possible. Would you recommend me about a quiet Power Supply (preferably fan-less, but quiet fan is acceptable) + quiet CPU fan (I have Core2 Quad Q8200) and a regular chassis big fan which is quiet as well ?

I would prefer buying from the same ebay seller if possible... Thanks!

There's not that much choice for quiet 80mm fans. Personally I'd go with the Noctua NF-R8, it comes with two inline adapters (LNA and ULNA) to reduce speeds if your motherboard or case lacks fan speed controls. I also used the Zalman ZM-F1 Plus for power supply fan swaps, it comes with a similar adapter to reduce speed/noise as the Noctua but spins a lot faster up-front (2800 RPM vs 1800 for the Noctua) so it won't be as quiet unless you have fan control to make it run really slow (around 5V).

Thanks for the recommendation about the Noctua NF-R8 , I can find it locally for 15$.

I really would like to get minimum amount of noise going out from the computer case (I use it in a recording room) so I'm just wondering (and thanks in advance):

1. Is there a cheap *fanless* PSU that you would recommend ? also, can I install the NF-R8 in my current PSU and still get minimum noise ? Should I get the 1800 or PWM version ?

2. I see most CPU coolers make at least 40dba of noise... in some site they even state the stock Intel fan is the quietest... I really have no intention to overclock etc., just need minimum noise... is there a cheap *fanless* cpu heatsink which you would recommend ?

3. Do I really need to use two 80mm fans, one on the back and the other placed on the front of the case?

What are the specs of your system, and your budget ? This should help us narrow it down better

1. Fanless PSUs are usually niche items so they are mostly expensive. The good news is that if you're not gaming you'll probably need 400w at most.
The Seasonic X400 Platinum and Kingwin Stryker STR-500 would be good choices, and even the X400 Gold if you can still find one, which should be cheaper than the Platinum version.
Keep in mind you still need some airflow around it (slow case fans should suffice).

As for swapping PSU fans, I would not suggest it except a last resort measure (eg: you really like your PSU and have no budget for another one) as it can be a bit dangerous and you need to know what you're doing (knowing starting voltages for the original fan and swapped fan, risks of electrocution inside the PSU and voiding the warranty).

2. Honestly, I would not go fanless on the CPU. Going all-fanless without sufficient ventilation/surface area is a recipe for disaster, so it's usually better to have slow-spinning fans instead.
The CM Hyper 212 Shinma mentioned should be really quiet with the fan dialed down to 6-700 RPM in the BIOS controls.
Same thing with case fans: mine spins at around 650 RPM when idling or light loads and I can't hear my PC unless I'm 1 feet or so from the case.

3. Ideally, yes, to ensure a constant intake/exhaust. Is your PC a custom-built system or a Dell/HP/etc ? Most modern cases use 120mm fans, which are slower-spinning for moving the same volume of air, thus quieter... and they are the standard so they have much more variety on the market. Newer cases (like the Fractal Design R4) even come with 140mm fans now. If you can, changing the case might be a more expensive but better move overall than trying to fit quiet 80mm fans.

Additionally, if you're really interested in silent components, Silent PC Review (SPCR) is pretty much the reference on the internet on this subject

Another vote for SPCR -- it's the best place to learn about quiet computing.

The fanless debate has occurred there and my take on the consensus is that a large, slow fan is the best compromise. As equinoxe3d said, you still need air movement for cooling and properly controlled (fan speed vs. temp) quiet fans are the answer.

I have an Asus P5Q motherboard equipped with a Core2Duo Q8200 @2.33, the current case supports only 80mm fans.

The MB has PWM fan jack for the CPU, but 3 pin jacks for the case fans (2 x chassis fans + 1 x power fan).

I checked for Seasonic psu's and they are quite expensive... What could be a cheaper alternative which will also be very quiet ?

The CM Hyper 212 Evo is available here for 50$ so no big deal... I'm also wondering if keeping using the current case with two Noctua NF-R8-1800 fans will still be quiet enough... or I really need 120mm case fans :/

I have an Asus P5Q motherboard equipped with a Core2Duo Q8200 @2.33, the current case supports only 80mm fans.

The MB has PWM fan jack for the CPU, but 3 pin jacks for the case fans (2 x chassis fans + 1 x power fan).

I checked for Seasonic psu's and they are quite expensive... What could be a cheaper alternative which will also be very quiet ?

The CM Hyper 212 Evo is available here for 50$ so no big deal... I'm also wondering if keeping using the current case with two Noctua NF-R8-1800 fans will still be quiet enough... or I really need 120mm case fans :/

Just trying to get it as cheapest as possible.

Since your motherboard doesn't seem to support PWM for the case fans-have you considered undervolting two 80 mm case fans, if the fans running at regular voltage are too loud for you? They won't turn as fast, but two of them may give you the ventilation you need.

One trick is to connect fans to the old Molex connectors (power connectors to IDE hdd's) and to connect to the 5V pins. Not all fans will start at 5V -- it's hit and miss. You'll get about 5/12 of the fan's rated speed. Some people connect between the 5V and 12V pins on a Molex (red + to the 12V) and get 7V. It's a better voltage for assured starting, but opinions vary as to the safety to the psu of doing that.
I think if you were using two 80mm fans it ought to be possible to wire them in series to 12V. Each fan should get 6V. Best if the fans are identical.

If you go with the Noctua 80mm they already come with two 3-pin inline adapters to undervolt them (LNA and ULNA, to around 9V and 7V if I remember correctly) and a Molex adapter if you don't want to use or do not have enough 3-pin jacks on your motherboard : noctua_nf_r8_3.jpg. At 7V they should be quiet enough.

As for the PSU, you can always go with the Seasonic G Series as they are less expensive and still very quiet. Newegg only has the 550w model available, but you can probably find a G Series 360 or 450 cheaper.

Don't know how much power your computer needs, but if real (not inflated) 350 watts will do, look for the SeaSonic SS-350ET. It's a budget model, but has the Seasonic quality, basic efficiency, and their effective fan controller. Its availability will likely vary with time and location (yours is not stated), but it's shown up in NCIX sales occasionally in Canada at fairly low prices, though not as an everyday item.